evil ants!!

[katie, max & penny]

In texas, they (we?) call them “fire ants”. in california we call(ed) them “red ants”. whatever the heck they are, they are on my last nerve! i got attacked by these little biting suckers and now i think i’m having an allergic reaction. the bites are uber itchy and red and swollen. and nothing works! i tried the cream i get for bee stings (i’m allergic to those too), hydrocortisone cream and benadryl. and the bites are still horrible and itchy!! does anyone have any experience with these miniature demons??

[MimzMum]

We have something similar even here in Alaska, but they don’t really leave stings like what you’re describing. I remember going out in my back yard with my Dusty dog and we trod right over the top of the hill. By the time we both realized we were being invaded they were halfway up my legs and YIIII!!! Did those bites hurt! 0_o We were both running for the house and trying to get the buggers off, each in our own way!
Do you have anything like Aveeno oatmeal bath powder, paste or cream? That is often good for getting the sting out of stuff that’s already swelling. Otherwise I always use an anti-bite ammonia pen for my stings, but it’s no good if you’ve already broken skin.
Do you have allergies to any other irritants? Hay fever or anything like that? You know I made a thread a while back about biting flies…let me see if I can hunt it up for you, there may be other suggestions there.

Ah, here it is:

https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aff/6/aft/106825/afv/topic/afnp/129418/Default.aspx

[Adalaide]

Oh my gosh I hate those things. They’re EVIL!!! I moved a few boards some years ago on the farm and it was my first encounter with them. I got halfway to where I was carrying them and my arm felt itchy, I didnt’ think anything of it but about 10 seconds later it was burning. I dropped the boards and my arm was covered in those little buggers. It’s by far the worst reaction I’ve ever had, my arm was swollen and red and itching and burning for more than a week. I swear by a band-aid brand itch gel and top it with calamine lotion. It’s the best thing I’ve ever tried. Also, honey will suck the venom out of a bee sting, I don’t know if it would work with the ant bites or not. It also helped to put ice packs on it. Anyway, I included a link to the gel I usually use. If those things became extinct tomorrow it wouldn’t be soon enough for me.

http://www0.shopping.com/xPO-Band_Aid_Band_Aid_Anti_Itch_Gel_3_Oz_Size

[Desma]

I have fought many a famous ant war here in Washington state! They are not the big red fire ants but they are ants that try to take over our home etc. I finally got some really good ant bait and for the past year or so, they have not invaded our home anymore.

[bunnytowne]

Mims Mum I love your avatar and your siggy.  Poor bunny lost his bloon.  awe

I think florida is  a giant ant bed.  WE got ants everywhere.  Inside outside just darn all over.  i picked up a book on fireants/red ants whatever ants.   They came from another country and invaded like 5 states.   More now.

the northern areas are trying to not get them by having all the stuff from the south (fruit and what not) inspected b4 it goes in their state. 

I dont’ think it is working though.  Darn things.  When I first get bit I dont scratch it.  In 2 days it has like a little pimple thingy then I scratch it and the poison comes out.  Then it doesn’t bother me as much.   

If I do scratch b4 2 days I am in trouble.  Then I itch like for  a week..    I put calomine lotion it usually helps a lot.   My neighbor said when I first get bit to put alcohol on it.  AND DON’T SCRATCH

easier said than done.   When I am sleeping and they itch I dream I am scratching and when I wake up I found I really did scratch.

You even have those nasty things in Alaska yikes.  I think the fire ants in florida are the worst.  The ones in Louisiana are kind of mild compared to here. 

That is one creature among about 5 that I wonder why God created them.  I guess to annoy us mere mortals

[Kafrn]

If you can get hold of some DE (www.gotyapests.com.au) you can sprinke it around your yard and it will kill all the ants. but better yet, you can mix it into a paste using some water, and put it on the ant / insect bites, and it will stop the itching immediately! No more pain!

[Author]

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